Living 4 Him

“Jesus  called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ When he had said this he breathed his last.” Luke 23:46 (NIV)

Throughout scripture we read of God’s arms, face, eyes, breath, and other body parts that describe his presence in our lives.  Though God is spirit, the descriptions of his body help us relate to the way he works in our lives. 

God’s hands signify protection, power and action. In the Gospel of John, Jesus spoke this assurance, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.”   God’s hands wrap around us in ways we can’t even imagine.

As Jesus neared the end of his earthly life, he spoke words from the scriptures, Psalm 31:5, a hymn of trust written by David which became a common Jewish prayer “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” A prayer of trust at a desperate time.  David’s Psalm also expresses full confidence upon God in verse 15: “My times are in your hands.”   

Trusting God begins with a realization of what he is capable of doing. Like human hands, God’s hands hold, help, give, lift up, and reach us. Visualize the significance of God’s hands in each scripture below.

“My own hands stretched out the heavens.” Isaiah 45:12  God’s hands gave form and life to the heavens and the earth. His hands work all day, every day to care for his creation.

“See, I have engraved you on the palm of my hands.” Isaiah 49:16 How important we are to God! He keeps us close to his love and never for a second forgets who we are. 

“I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”  Isaiah 41:10  God has lifted us above the worries of the world with his right hand of authority and victory. 

“All day long I have held out my hands . . . ” Isaiah 65:2 Can you see God there, next to you, reaching for you, ready to help, ready to hold, ready to embrace you in his all-consuming love. . . He’s there!

The God we trust in and worship is a God of life, a God of love, a God reaching, a God lifting.  The New Living Translation of Psalm 66:9 says, “Our lives are in his hands.” Every detail is held by him.

In Jesus’ darkest hour he turned to a prayer in which he gave himself to the hands of his Father.   Jesus gave up his life in the same way he lived his life, committing his spirit to God’s hands, because he knew as we also can know; God’s hands are the best place to be.

**April is National Poetry Month! Enjoy a poem by Helen Steiner Rice each week in April.

Reaching in (allowing God’s Word to work in your soul):  Reread the scriptures referenced above.  Which scripture connects you more deeply to God?

Reaching out (taking God’s Word into the world):  Make Jesus’ prayer your daily prayer: Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.

As we seek to turn our lives over to God, let’s be inspired by this poem to help us let go.

Let Go and Let God!

by Helen Steiner Rice

When you’re troubled and worried and sick at heart

And your plans are upset and your world falls apart,

Remember God’s ready and waiting to share

The burden you find much too heavy to bear–

So with faith LET GO AND LET GOD lead the way

Into a brighter and less troubled day.